Automatic sound reproducer



July 22, 1952 A. B. SACK ETAL 2,604,547

AUTOMATIC SOUND REPRDUCER iw 6* SKATTORNEYS.

A. B. SACK ET AL AUTOMATIC SOUND REPRODUCER July z2, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 24, 1949 nnrunnr Patented July 22, 1952 AUTOMATIC SOUND REPRODUCER August B. Sack, Los Angeles, and Maurice Kessman, Santa Monica, Calif.; said Kessman assignor to Will R. Golden, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 24, 1949, Serial No. 101,024

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an automaticsound reproducer and more particularly to a device for reproducing a message which will, at the completion of the message,lautcmatically cease operation.

Many types of sound reproducing devices currently available are unsatisfactory for certain uses whereinv it is desired to continuously repeat a. single, often a brief message, on a given signal without either manual control or the need for, in some way, resetting the device. For instance, in recent years the use of mechanical dispensers for vending certain types of objects, in particular cigarettes, has come into widespread use. It is desirable to provide a sound reproducer which will raudibly reproduce some predetermined courteous statement for the hearing of the purchaser each time the vending machine is operated. Such a device must be simple, compact and reliable. In addition, it must be operable at rapid intervals.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a sound reproducer which will, at a given signal reproduce a message and which will, at the completion of that message automatically cease operating.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide such a device for a vending machine which will operate automatically each time a purchase is made from the Vending machine, and which will automatically cease operation at the conclusion of the desired statement.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device of such compactnessthat it can be readily installed in the majority of commercial vending machines.

An additional object of this invention is to provide such a device of such character that it will be inexpensive to manufacture, install and maintain in operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of suchl a device utilizing a single closed magnetic Wire loop having magnetically recorded thereon the statement which it is desired to reproduce.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of such a device wherein a single closed magnetic wire loop isv automatically passed through a magnetic playback head one complete revolution each time a purchase is made from the vending machine, and at the completion of which revolution the device becomes inoperative.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. I

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic sound reproducer embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the sound reproducer.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional top View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a sectional end View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure l. l

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary front ele- Vation showing the operation of the switching mechanism.

Figure 8 is a simplified circuit diagram of the sound reproducer.

Referring now to the figures, a magnetized recording wire I joined to form a closed loop by means of a spring 3 connected to the ends of the wire I by beads 5 and 'I is carried by a plurality of pulleys 9, II, I3, I5 and Il. The pulleys are journaled so as to freely rotate upon mountings which are mounted upon a supporting board I9 in any suitable manner. The pulleys are located on the board so as to accommodate the full length of the recording Wire I and maintain the wire I in a condition of mild tension. As seen in Figure 1, the pos'itionof pulley I5 is made adjustable by means of the slot 2| whereby the pulley I5 can be located at any desired position on the slot. In this manner, the position of pulley l5 can be varied so as to accommodate slight changes in the length of different recording wires I which may be used on the device. In order to further insure that the recording wire is maintained under mild tension so as to prevent it from running off the pulley track, or from breaking if the device be jarr'ed, a take-up pulley 23 is provided. The said take-up pulley is pivotally mounted upon'the supporting board I9 by means of a pivoting yoke 25 which is journaled upon a b olt 29, which bolt 29 is xedly mounted on the board I9. V'Ihe take-up pulley 23 is freely rotatable upon a bolt 3l by means of which it is supported in the pivoting yoke 25. As

seen in Figure 1, the take-up pulley 23 will tend to pivot about point 2l to a-vertical position. The combined Weight of the pulley 23` and the pivoting yoke 25 will therefore exert a force upon the recording wire I and take up anyslack through a magnetic playback head 33 which is secured to the board I9. The output of the magnetic playback head 33 is fed to a suitable audio amplier 35 mounted at the back of the board I9. The operation of a magnetic playback head and the audio amplifier is well known and will not be here described. After suii'icient amplification, the signal from the magnetic playback head is applied to a suitable spaker, not shown.

Pulley I1 is utilized as a drive pulley to drive the recording wire I through the magnetic playback head 33 in the following manner. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, it is seen that xedly mounted on pulley I1 is a drum 31. Pulley I1 and drum 31 are journaled upon a bolt 33 which is xedly mounted upon the supporting board I9. Pulley I1 is positively driven by means of the drive shaft 4I of a suitable motor 43 which frictionally engages the drum 31. The drum 31 is constructed of rubber or other resilient material so as to prevent slipping between the drum and the drive shaft 4I'. The periphery of the pulley I1 is V-shaped with the result that the pulley will grip the recording wire and prevent undue slippage between the pulley and wire as the pulley is driven.

As apparent from the above description, when electric energy is applied to the motor 43 the pulley I1 will drive the recording wire I through the magnetic playback head 33. The magnetic variations' in the recording wire I which correspond to the desired audible signal will be transformed into voltage variations by means of the magnetic playback head 33. These voltage variations are ampliiied by the amplifier 35 and utilized to drive a loud speaker, thereby audibly reproducing the message magnetically recorded on the recording wire.

In order to provide a suitable sound reproducer for a vending machine it is necessary that the device be activated to respond for a single cycle only each time a purchase is made from the vending machine in which the device is installed. To achieve this result a system of switches is provided whereby when the coin plunger on the vending machine is used electrical energy is applied to the motor 43. This operation serves to close a second switch in the motor power supply line. When the device has completed a single cycle of operation, that is when the full length of the recording wire has passed through the playback head 33, the second switch is opened so as to cut off the supply of electrical energy to the motor 43, thereby removing the drive from drive pulley I1 and stopping the device.

Figure 8 illustrates schematically the electric circuitry in the device. Thus, it is seen that two parallel switches 45 and 41 are placed in the power supply connections for the motor 43. If either of these switches be closed, power will be applied to the motor. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the operation of the coin plunger in the vending machine serves to close switch 41. This operation applies power to the motor 43 which drives the recording wire I through the magnetic playback head 33 as heretofore described. The spring 3 and beads 5 and 1, later to be described, serve to hold switch 45 open. When the recording wire I is driven a slight amount, however, switch 45 is released and thereby closed. Switch 41 will be open when the coin plunger of the vending machine is released. At this time, however, switch 45 will be closed and the flow of current to the driving motor will not be interrupted. The recording wire I is driven a complete cycle at which time the aforementioned spring and bead assembly in a manner now to be described opens switch 45 thereby opening the power circuit to the'motor 43 and arresting the operation of the device.

Referring now to Figures l, 6 and '1, the operation of switch 45 will be described. As previously described the recording Wire I is joined to form a closed loop by means of a spring 3 and beads 5 and 1. Straddling recording wire I is the bifurcated end member 49 of the arm 5l' which is pivotally connected at 53 to the switch 45. The arm 5I is preferably constructed of spring steel or similar material and tends to force the end member 49 downwardly. Arm 5I contacts a pin 55 which projects from the switch 45. The switch 45 is open when the pin 55 is forced inwardly and is closed when the pin 55 is released. Such a switch is in common usage and is well known. Referring to Figure 7, the operation of the switch is illustrated. As the wire I is driven in the direction shown by the arrow the bead 5 will engage the bifurcated end member49 of the arm 5 I. The beads 5 and 1 and the spring 3 being of larger diameter than the wire I will not pass freely through the said end member 49 but will engage it driving it upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. When the arm 5I is in this upward position it will force the pin 55 upwardly thereby opening the switch45 and cutting off the power to the motor 43. At this time the movement of the Wire will, of course, cease. When the switch 41 is closed by the operation of the coin plunger in the vending machine, power willJ ilow to the motor 43 which will again drive the recording wire I in the direction indicated. This will be a sufficient time, however, for the compression spring 3 and bead 1 to be disengaged from the member 49. When the coin plunger is released with the result that switch 41 is again open, switch 45 will have been closed with the result that the motor 43 will drive the recording wire I without interruption.

While the bead 5 will drive the arm 5I upwardly so as to open switch 45, the-momentum of the recording wire I may cause the bead 5 to slip past the end member 49 thereby allowing the arm to spring downwardly closing switch 45. In order to prevent the arm 5I from falling back sufiiciently far to release the pin 55 and thereby close the switch 45, the compression spring 3 is utilized. Even though the momentum of the recording wire I carries bead 5 slightly beyond end member 49, the said member will rest upon the compression spring 3 at such a height that the switch will remain open. v

When the switch 41 is closed by the operation of the coin plunger of the vending machine the motor 43 will again drive the recording wire I in the direction indicated. The compression spring 3 and the bead 1 will be driven past the end member 49 of the switch arm 5I. The arm 5I will then swing downwardly, coming to rest upon a bumper 51. The bumper 51 mounted upon the supporting board I9 is preferably oonstructed of rubber or other resilient material. Bumper 51 serves to prevent end member 49 from striking against the playback head `33. When the switching arm 5I is in this position, the pin 55 has been released a sufficient amount to close switch 45. The switch 41 will remain closed only during the time which the coin plunger is being operated.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 the driving motor 43 is seen to be a low power alternating current motor, the general characteristics of which are well known. The motor 43 is pivotally mounted to the supporting board I9 by a stud 59, which is attached to the laminated iron core 60, Washers 6I and 63, a screw 65 and a large rubber washer 61. With such mounting the stud can, due to the resiliency of the rubber washer 61 against which the washers 63 and 6I are firmly engaged, pivot over a few degrees thereby pivoting the motor on the supporting board I9. A tension spring 69 is secured to thesupporting board I9 at one end bya stud 1 I. The other end of-the tension spring is secured to a stud 13 which is attached to the laminated iron core-y 63 of the motor 43. The spring 69 tends to pivot the motor about its mounting in such manner that the drive shaft 4I of the motor will be firmlyI pressed against the drum 31 of the driving pulley I1. In this manner the motor 43 will smoothly drive the drive pulley I1. The eiect of any jarring of the vending machine which might otherwise serve to momentarily disengage the drive shaft 4I from the drum 31 and thereby cause the recording wire I to pass through the playback head 33 in a jerky and uneven fashion will befprevented by the action of the spring 69. The drive shaft 4I is journaled in a bracket 15 theends of which are attached to the laminated iron core 60 as seen in Figure 2. Fixedly mounted upon the drive shaft 4I is the motor armature` 11 and a washer 19. Washer 19 is preferably constructed of a material such as cork which will present a relatively high surface friction. Mounted at the rear of the motor on a bracket 8| in which is journaled the drive shaft 4I is a leaf spring 83. Leaf spring 83 serves to force the washer 19 against the bracket 15. With this arrangement when the power to the motor 43 is cut off friction between the bracket and washer 19 serves to quickly stop the rotation of the drive shaft and in that way acts as a brake on the drum 31, hence the drive pulley I1. This braking action insures that the momentum of the system will not carry the bead 1 and spring 3 sufiiciently far to release end member 49 'and thereby close switch 45 at the completion of a cycle of operation.

While the function of the spring 3 in maintaining the switching arm 5I in a position to open switch 45 has heretofore been described, the spring 3 has a second and equally important function. One of the principal difficulties encountered in magnetic wire reproducers is the breaking of the recording wire if the instrument is jarred or if for any other reason the wire is driven in a jerky or uneven fashion. This difficulty is intensified in the device herein described because of the presence of the beads 5 and 1. Each time one of these beads passes over one of the pulleys, the result is to abruptly increase the tension on the wire, The spring 3, however, prevents this action from unduly straining the wire. As heretofore described, spring 3 joins the ends of the wire in a closed loop. The elasticity of the spring therefore serves to compensate for any increased'tension on the wire and to thereby prevent breakage of the wire.

The operation of the sound reproducer is as follows: When a purchase is made from the vending machine and the coin plunger isV oper--y a suicient distance for the compression spring 3 and the bead 1 tohave passed beyond the bifurcated end member 49 of the arm 5I at which time the arm 5I will fall to the rubber bumper 51. This will release the pin 55 which will close the switch 45. At some time shortly after switch 45 is closed the coin plunger in the vending machine will have been released with the result that switch 41 will be opened. The motor 43 will drive the drive pulley I1 and'hence the recording wire I through a single cycle at which time bead 5 will contact the end member 49 of the arm 5I. The bead 5 will carry the arm 5I upwardly with the result that pin 55 will be forced upwardly so as to open switch 45. Due to the momentum of the various parts of the system, the bead 5 will usually slide beyond the end member 49. Its travel will, however, be limited due to the motor braking action heretofore described. The compressed spring 3 will, however, prevent the end member 49 from falling to its normal position against bumper 51 and will therefore maintain switch 45 in an open condition. Momentum of the various parts will not cause the spring 3 to slide beyond the end member 49 due to the braking action resulting from the frictional engagement of the bracket 15 and the washer 1S. Until such time as the switch 41 is again closed by the operation of the coin plunger the device will remain idle.

It is contemplated that in the embodiment of the invention above described a single message will be magnetically recorded upon the wire I. such as an advertising slogan or a courteous remark thanking the customer `formaking the purchase. A compact, sound reproducer is provided which utilizes but a single loop of recording wire and which will automatically repeat the single message impressed thereon each time a purchase is made from the vending machine in which the device is installed. In addition, the device will automatically shut itself off at the completion of the desired message.

It is to be understood that our invention may have other applications than its use in a mechanical vending machine. Thus, it may be used whenever it is desired to automatically reproduce on a given signal a single message a single time only.

It is to be further understood that our invention is not limited to a recording wire having but a single message recorded thereon. Thus, if it be desired to reproduce a series of messages in some predetermined sequence a bead and spring assembly need only be placed at the end of each message. The movement of the recording wire wil be interrupted, in the manner heretofore described, at the completion of each such message, and will continue only when the device is again activated by momentarily applying power to the driving motor.

It is also to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In an automatic sound reproducer, a magnetic pickup head, a driving motor, a recording wire, a bead joining the ends ofthe said recording Wire in a closed loop, a switch, means operable to open and close said switch extending into the path of travel of said recording wire and acting to arrest the movement of the recording wire through the magnetic pickup head after the recorded intelligence on the said wire has once been reproduced by opening the said switch and thereby cutting olic the source of power to the drive motor when the said bead engages the said means, and a spring attached to the said bead, having a cross-section substantially in excess of said wire and acting to maintain said means in such position that the switch is open.

2. In an automatic sound reprcducer, a magnetic pickup head, a recording wire, means joining the ends of the recording wire in a closed loop, a driving motor for driving the recording wire through the pickup head, a switch in the power supply leads to the motor, a switching arm attached to the said switch said means operable to engage the said switching arm and thereby to open the said switch to cut off the power to the said driving motor after the recording wire has been driven through the magnetic pickup head a single time, and additional means attached to the iirst mentioned means for engaging the said switching arm and thereby maintaining the said switch in its open position, said additional means including a longitudinal member along the said wire having a cross-section substantially in excess of said wire.

3. In an automatic sound reproducer, a magnetic pickup head, a recording wire, means joining the ends of the recording wire in a closed loop, a driving motor for driving the recording wire through the pickup head, a switch in the power supply leads to the motor, a switching arm attached to the said switch said means operable to engage the said switching arm and thereby to open the said switch to cut 01T the power to the said driving motor after the recording wire has been driven through the magnetic pickup head a single time, additional means attached to the iirst mentioned means for engaging the said switching arm and thereby maintaining the said switch in its open position, said additional means including a longitudinal member along the said wire having a cross-section substantially in excess of said wire, and a second switch connected in parallel with said rst mentioned switch and operable to close the power circuit to the said driving motor.

Li. In an automatic sound reproducer, a magnetic pickup head, a recording wire having magi netically recorded thereon a plurality of messages, a driving motor for driving the recording wire over the pickup head, a switch in the energizing circuit for the said driving motor, a switching arm linked to the said switch and operable to open and close the said switch, members spaced on the said recording wire at intervals corresponding to the end of each message recorded on the wire, said members engaging the said switching arm, opening the said switch and thereby deenergizing the said driving motor after the reproduction of each message, and additional members attached to said rst mentioned members and engaging the said switching ann to maintain the said switch in an open position, said additional members including a longitudinal portion extending along said wire and having a cross-section substantially in excess of said wire.

5. In an automatic sound reproducer, a magnetic pickup head, a recording wire having magnetically recorded thereon a plurality of messages, a driving motor for driving the recording wire over the pickup head, a switch in the energizing circuit for the said driving motor, a switching arm linked to the said switch and operable to open and close the said switch, members spaced on the said recording wire at intervals corresponding to the end of each message recorded on the wire, said members engaging the said switching arm, opening the said switch and thereby deenergizing the said driving motor after the reproduction of each message, additional members attached to said rst mentioned members and engaging the said switching arm to maintain the said switch in an open position, said additional members including a longitudinal portion extending along said wire and having a cross-section substantially in excess of said wire, and a second switch, connected in parallel with said first mentioned switch and operable to energize the said driving motor.

6. In an automatic sound reproducer, a magnetic pickup head, a closed loop recording wire, members located on the said recording wire at a position corresponding to the end of the message recorded thereon, a driving motor for driving the recording wire over the magnetic pickup head, a switch in the energizing circuit for the said driving motor, a switching arm linked to the said switch and operable to open and close the said switch, said members engaging the said switching arm and retaining the said switching arm in a position opening the said switch at the completion of the message recorded on the said recording wire, a second switch connected to parallel with the rst mentioned switch and operable to close the energizing circuit to the said driving motor, the driving motor when so energized by the closing of the second switch acting to drive the said members a sufficient distance to disengage the said switching arm and thereby close the rst mentioned switch, and means for then opening the said second mentioned switch.

7. In a sound reproducer of the type utilizing a wire having magnetically recorded thereon the desired intelligence, a magnetic pickup head, a driving motor for driving the wire over the pickup head, a pair of switches connected in parallel in the energizing circuit of the driving motor, a

switching arm associated with one of the said switches and operative to open the said switch, means mounted upon the said wire to engage the said switching arm at the completion of the reproduction of the intelligence so as to open the said one switch, and means for closing the other switch so as to energize the driving motor and disengage the said first mentioned means from the said switching arm.

8. In an automatic sound reproducer of the type utilizing a magnetic pickup head, a closed loop recording wire having recorded thereon the desired intelligence, a magnetic pickup head, a driving motor for driving the wire over the pickup head, a pair of switches connected in parallel in the energizing circuit of the driving motor, a switching arm associated with one of the said switches and operative to open the said switch, means mounted upon the said wire to engage the said switching arm at the completion cf the reproduction of the intelligence so as to open the said one switch, additional means associated with said first mentioned means to engage the said switching arm and thereby to maintain the said one switch in its open position, and means for closing the other switch so as to energize the driving motor and disengage the said second mentioned means from the said switching arm.

9. In an automatic sound reproducer, a magnetic pickup head, a driving motor, a recording wire, a spring, beads joining the said recording The fol 10 REFERENCES CITED lowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wallis Mar. 21, 1939 Somers June 10, 1947 

